6 Habits of Highly Effective Leaders

Becoming a highly-effective leader requires more than just hard work. True leaders live a life full of helpful habits that keep them passionate, excited, and energized for everything that’s to come. Here’s a list of habits that can guide you to become a more effective leader:

Be honest

In order to lead well, you must lead with the truth. When people recognize you are an honest person they will respect you and listen to you more as a leader. So during tough times don’t be tempted to divert a little bit from the truth, push yourself and remain 100% transparent with the people around you. Sometimes the truth may initially hurt, but it will take you further than a lie.

2) Be responsible

Leaders must take responsibility for their actions as well as for their people’s performance. Assume accountability demonstrates that you are both strong and humble, that you are not perfect but you strive for improvement. So lead by example and remain responsible 24/7. People will not only look respect you, but they will learn from you.

3) Be determined

A great leader remains determined all through the rollercoaster ride that is being a leader. Be fearless and see things through to completion. Determination is also contagious. Once people see you don’t give up that easily, they will join you and become just as determined.

4) Exude confidence, not arrogance

This habit can be a bit tricky because what may seem confident to some people, comes off as arrogant to others. They key lies in that true confidence is not when you consider yourself a God; it’s when you don’t shy away from challenges and tackle them head on, even if at the end you fail. The truth of the matter is that leaders who people are willing to follow must exude this type confidence and self-assurance in themselves. The minute a leader fails to do so, people will lose confidence in them. They will interpret the lack of confidence as a lack of commitment.

5) Be supportive

A great way to balance out self-confidence is by being confident in others. Great leaders remain supportive of the people around them. They recognize the importance of their employees or followers and understand what drives them, so effective leaders genuinely become concerned for their employees’ health, welfare, etc. Moreover, support is reciprocal. When a leader is supportive, chances are his or her employees will be supportive in return. Once that cycle of support is established, these kinds of relationships will undoubtedly foster long-term success.

6) Be positive

In order to take on complicated challenges, an effective leader must be an optimist. That is not to say that he or she cannot expect negatives along the way, but a true leader should not allow negative experiences or expectations to taint his or her passion and drive towards the future.